BWF World Championships 2023 preview: Full schedule and how to watch live

Viktor Axelsen and Yamaguchi Akane are back to defend their badminton world titles when the 2023 BWF Badminton World Championships take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 21–27 August. The tournament is available to stream live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions may apply).

The two returning winners are joined by their fellow defending champions Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia (men's), Chen Qingchen / Jia Yifan of People's Republic of China (women's), and Zheng Siwei / Huang Yaqiong also of China (mixed) in the doubles in Copenhagen. 

With the draw having taken place last Thursday, each of the 64 men's singles and 48 women's singles players as well as the 144 doubles pairs (48 in each event) know exactly who lies between them and the coveted world gold medal.

Here is what you should know about the 2023 World Championships.

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Singles

The seedings don't lie in the singles events. In the men's event, the top three seeds – Axelsen, Indonesia's Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, and Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn – have won eight titles already this season between them, six on the World Tour at Super 500 level or higher, along with the European (Axelsen) and Asia (Ginting) Championships.

Given Axelsen's dominance of the global game, it is difficult to look past him especially on home soil. The other seeds in the top 8 are: Naraoka Kodai (Japan), Jonatan Christie (Indonesia), Li Shifeng (China), Loh Kean Yew (Singapore), and Shi Yuqi (China). 

There is even more of a hegemony in the women's draw. While previous world and Olympic champion Carolina Marín will hope to upset the apple cart and return to the top of the world podium, 11 of the 12 World Tour events at Super 500 level or higher this year have been won by the top three seeds in Copenhagen: An Se-young of Republic of Korea, Yamaguchi, and China's Olympic champion Chen Yufei.

It is hard to look past one, or more, of those three reaching the semi-finals stage. The other top 8 seeds are: Tai Tzu-ying (Chinese Taipei), He Bingjiao (China), Marín (Spain), Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand), and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (Indonesia).

Doubles

Malaysia's Chia and Soh are returning champs in men's doubles, but are perhaps not major favourites. Indeed, standing in their way – should each pair get there – could be Olympic champions Lee Yang / Wang Chi-lin in the last 16. Lee and Wang won gold at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021 – but then went on a barren spell though injuries and confidence issues that lasted nearly two years and only ended at the 2023 Japan Open last month, also held in Tokyo. 

"We've been through a very low patch of form," Wang said after the pair won last month. "But we've slowly been working to stabilise it. Winning this title has helped us gain a clear direction of where we are. This is a huge confidence boost, but we will keep working hard." The top three seeds are: Fajar Alfian / Muhd Rian Ardianto (Indonesia), Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty (India), and Liang Weikeng / Wang Chang (China).

Chen and Jia in women's doubles are aiming for their third consecutive title, having been world champions in 2021 and 2022. The Chinese duo are also the top seeds in a tough field. Their biggest threats are likely to be South Korean pairs Baek Ha-na / Lee So-hee, the second seeds, and Kim So-yeong / Kong Hee-yong, the third seeds. Between them, the three duos have nine World Tour titles this year. Japan's Matsuyama Nami / Shida Chiharu, seeded seventh, have also won the Japan Open and Canada Open titles this year, and can't be counted out either.

Finally, the mixed doubles title favourites have to be defending champions and top seeds Zheng and Huang. The Chinese have won all three top-tier Super 1000 events this season: the Malaysia, All England, and Indonesia Opens. Last year's silver medallists Watanabe Yuta / Higashino Arisa, the second seeds, are also in the mix, but can they finally overcome their Chinese rivals? Feng Yanzhe / Huang Dongping of China are the third seeds.

Schedule of 2023 badminton World Championships

Exact playing session times to be confirmed.

• Monday 21 August: Round of 64 (men's singles), round of 48 (all other categories)
• Tuesday 22 August: Round of 32 (men's singles), round of 48 and 32 (all other categories)
• Wednesday 23 August: Round of 32
• Thursday 24 August: Round of 16
• Friday 25 August: Quarter-finals
• Saturday 26 August: Semi-finals
• Sunday 27 August: Finals

Badminton World Championships 2023: How to watch on TV and livestream online

You can watch the badminton World Championships 2023 on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions may apply).

It will also be available on the BWF TV YouTube channel and on various domestic television broadcasters. Check local listings for details.

If you are unable to find a screen to watch the matches, look out for Olympics.com's reports on the results and best of the action from the event.